同店销售额下滑，债务压顶，遇见小面冲击港股IPO：是餐饮奇迹，还是资本泡沫？

Core Viewpoint - The company "遇见小面" is aggressively expanding its store network while facing declining same-store sales, raising questions about its strategy and potential for success in the capital market as it prepares for an IPO [1][2]. Group 1: Company Overview - "遇见小面" was founded in 2014 and has become a notable player in the Chinese noodle restaurant sector, ranking fourth in sales among similar brands as of 2024 [4]. - The company has received significant investment from various backers, including 百福控股 and 碧桂园控股, and its founders hold a combined 53.28% stake [5][7]. Group 2: Expansion and Store Network - The company has rapidly increased its number of stores, reaching 252 by the end of 2023, with plans to open an additional 120 to 150 stores in 2025 [8][12]. - As of April 2025, "遇见小面" operates 374 restaurants in mainland China and 6 in Hong Kong, with 64 more in preparation [9]. Group 3: Financial Performance - Revenue has shown strong growth, with figures of 418 million RMB in 2022, 800 million RMB in 2023, and projected 1.15 billion RMB in 2024, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 66.2% [13][14]. - Despite revenue growth, the company has faced increasing debt, with a net current liability of 2.42 billion RMB by the end of 2024, indicating financial strain [17][18]. Group 4: Pricing Strategy and Sales Performance - The company has adopted a "price for volume" strategy, leading to a decline in average order value from 36.1 RMB in 2022 to 32.0 RMB in 2024, which has affected profitability [15][16]. - Same-store sales have decreased by 5.14% in first-tier cities, with total same-store sales dropping from 740 million RMB to 709 million RMB in 2024 [16]. Group 5: Operational Challenges - The company has faced criticism for its management practices, including a significant reduction in full-time employees by approximately 45% in 2024, while relying heavily on outsourced labor [23][25]. - Food safety issues have been reported, with multiple complaints regarding service and food quality, raising concerns about operational standards [25][27].